Arts & Entertainment

Los Angeles DWP's Festival of Lights canceled due to water project

Here’s something to consider as you plan your holiday season. To keep the water flowing, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has cut the lights on a 14-year tradition in Griffith Park.

Whether you anticipate the DWP's annual festival of lights for the mile-long holiday themed display or dread it because of the taillights backing up off Highway 5 – that part of Griffith Park will be dark this year. L.A. City Councilman Tom LaBonge, whose district includes the park, announced the change in summer.

A utility project is the reason. DWP’s working on a major water line that connects the Ivanhoe Reservoir in Silverlake with the North Hollywood Pumping Station.

“Major” means an 8-foot diameter pipe through that section of the park. Last year visitors to the Festival of Lights display in Griffith Park mostly biked or walked past the installation.

LaBonge and DWP officials say the cancellation this year will keep the utility’s work on schedule – and will prevent another next year.

The free light display has attracted as many as half a million people a year. Its absence this year could benefit nearby Travel Town – where a train ride along a holiday display to a North Pole Village will set visitors back 7 bucks a person and $5 for every picture with Santa.